Mexican and Cupcakes.
Earlier this week, I traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s annual Government Day. Government Day is usually reserved for the advocacy and government relation committee members at the local chapter level around the country, but I was fortunate to go as part of a blogger panel. It include Mike Hoskins, Scott Johnson, Kerri Sparling, Scott Strange, Kelly Rawlings, Kelly Kunik, Cherise Shockley, and Kim from Texting my Pancreas. It is always fun to introduce the concept of social media to the uninitiated and it’s always really cool when people get wide eyed and excited about blogs, Twitter and Facebook. It’s also great to dispel some of the common myths and misconceptions about putting yourself “out there” on the Internet. As somewhat of an expert, I always love to share my knowledge and experience.
If you want to get some inside peeks into the event, head over to DiabetesMine where I’ve put together a little video about the event.
On Monday evening, we were lucky enough to be joined by a few more bloggers in town, including Dayle and Chris, Miriam Tucker, Allison Brooks Schwalm, Kevin (!), Lindsay and Sarah (a friend of Kim’s).
Where did we go? Chevy’s Tex Mex.
What did we eat? Mexican and cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes. (Yep – that Georgetown Cupcake!).
It was, in a word, a blast. I spend a lot of time writing about diabetes and thinking about diabetes, and I spend a lot of time online with my D pals. But it’s just so refreshing to have real time conversations about diabetes with people who get it. Not only that, but these people have become my friends! Who doesn’t like hanging out with their friends? Half the time we don’t even talk about diabetes, but when we do, it’s a seamless transition. Switching from talking about our jobs to talking about having a low blood sugar while at work isn’t strange or shocking at all. It’s, well, normal! And it’s nice to feel normal. Even if it’s just once in awhile.
We also had a visit from the Diabetes Online Community’s mascot: Sprinkles, the Unicorn.
(Okay, so perhaps normal is a bit of a stretch…)
Next time… more mascots!
Thanks for participating in the shenanigans
Hey, I think it’s completely normal.
I love a chance to get together for cupcakes with diabetes friends. Cause you guys are awesome minus d. Add d to the mix and there hasn’t yet been a word created for how awesome a person can be.
No word in the English language to describe the awesomeness of the DOC? I completely agree.
Thx for a great job covering Government Day… and OMG, I love Sprinkles!!
Thanks for blogging and advocating.
Glad it was a good trip!
I recently saw this and wanted to send it to everyone in the DOC.
How funny is this?!?!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69764017/dear-noah-letterpress-card
You should! I’m totally tweeting this!